Laravel Clean Architecture

Priority: P1 (HIGH)

Workflow: Add a Domain Feature

1. Create domain folder — app/Domains/Order/{Actions,DTOs,Contracts}/.
2. Define DTO — Create a readonly class with typed constructor properties.
3. Create contract — Define a repository interface in Contracts/.
4. Implement repository — Build Eloquent implementation; bind in AppServiceProvider.
5. Write Action class — Single-responsibility use-case logic consuming the DTO.
6. Verify bindings — Run php artisan tinker and resolve the interface to confirm DI works.

Action + DTO Example

See implementation examples for Action class with DTO and domain structure patterns.

Implementation Guidelines

Domain-Driven Design (DDD)

• Grouping: Organize code in app/Domains/Order/{Actions,DTOs,Contracts}/. Group by business domain (User, Order, Payment) — not by type (Controllers, Models).
• Core Models: Keep standard Eloquent models in app/Models/.
• Separation: Never put Eloquent queries in controllers; delegate to Action classes for use-case logic.

Data Transfer Objects (DTOs)

• Immutability: Use readonly class (PHP 8.2+) or readonly properties (PHP 8.1+). DTOs cross boundaries — pass between layers instead of raw arrays or Eloquent models.

Repository Pattern & Decoupling

• Interfaces: Create Contracts/OrderRepository interface and implement EloquentOrderRepository.
• Binding: Bind interfaces to implementations in AppServiceProvider via $this->app->bind(OrderRepository::class, EloquentOrderRepository::class).
• Usage: Inject interfaces into your actions/services.
• Layer Flow: Controller → Action → Repository Interface → Eloquent. DTOs cross boundaries at every layer transition.

Anti-Patterns

• No Eloquent in Controllers: Bridge layers with DTOs and Actions.
• No raw arrays across layers: Use typed readonly DTOs.
• No God Services: Break into single-responsibility Actions.
• No concrete dependencies: Depend on Interfaces, not implementations.

References

• DDD & Repository Patterns